The German Melting Pot

From medieval times until today Germany has been a cocktail of very different peoples and cultural groups. The components of the 'cocktail' have changed, but not Germany's character as such. The many cultural divides have often led to conflict, once even to genocide, but surprisingly often cooperation, or at least peaceful coexistence, has been the characteristic feature. Against the background of a graphic historical survey the author analyzes the factors which have made cooperation possible, or conversely, have produced conflicts.

Autorentext

WOLFGANG ZANK is an Assistant Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark. He studied history, sociology and economics at Bochum University 1973-79, and became a research fellow there. From 1984-91 he had various appointments at Danish universities and was a Senior Researcher at Aalborg University prior to becoming an Assistant Professor.

Inhalt
List of Figures Introduction PART ONE: THE GENESIS OF A MELTING-POT From Germania to the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic Nation From Reformation to Enlightenment: Political Fragmentation and Cultural Unification 1792-1871: The Shaping of Germany PART TWO: A MELTING POT UNDER PRESSURE Germany after 1871: Some General Aspects and Trends The Four Main Milieux The Uniting Force of Federalism: Southern Germany in Contrast to Alsace Lorraine The Jews Native Non-German Minorities Immigrants and East-West Migrants Some Conclusions: Cultural Conflicts and Integration in the Kaiserreich PART THREE: A MELTDOWN World War I: The Primary Catastrophe of the Century The Weimar Republic The Third Reich, World War II, and Genocides PART FOUR: A MELTING POT MODERNIZED The Integration Miracle Unification and Current Problems Summary: How a Melting-Pot Works References Index